KENYA: TENNIS - World number two Serena Williams holds tennis clinic in Nairobi

Record ID: 360922

  • Title: KENYA: TENNIS - World number two Serena Williams holds tennis clinic in Nairobi
  • Date: 16th November 2008
  • Summary: COACHES HITTING BALLS TO TRAINEES MORE OF TENNIS COACH HITTING BALLS WILLIAMS WATCHING SESSION CHILDREN TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 1st December 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2YMWVM8H6CMN0LOC4USLE7VX
  • Story Text: World number two Serena Williams holds a tennis clinic for young Kenyans in a bid to encourage the sport's development in Africa.
    Tennis world number two Serena Williams held a clinic in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Saturday (November 15) to promote the sport amongst the region's youth.
    About 100 children participated in the clinic as a group of spectators watched the American star perform a number of exercises for the local youngsters.
    Williams, 27, said she acknowledged the importance of a celebrity visit to young players.
    "I remember when I was younger I met Billie Jean King. It was just awesome, even though I never got a chance to see her play but I knew her name and it was just a good opportunity for me to see giving back. I think giving back is really important," she said.
    The younger Williams sister said she enjoyed helping players develop their skills at a sport where she has won numerous honours and at times dominated the sport along with sister Venus.
    "The only thing that I get out of it is the joy. Joy of being here and helping the kids and I think that's what's most important," she added.
    Kenyan player Joab Odera said the success of the Williams sisters had helped inspire many across the continent into self-belief.
    "For a long time, I didn't see someone who could show African players like us a way forward. When Serena and Venus Williams came into the scene, I think that was a big inspiration for all of us, we knew we could do it," he said.
    Williams, who has already travelled to South Africa, is due to visit the Senegalese capital Dhaka on Sunday (November 16).
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